GB2093241A

GB2093241A - Distress alarm apparatus for buildings

Info

Publication number: GB2093241A
Application number: GB8104504A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BROWN DIANA KATHLEEN; MANSFIELD JOAN
Current assignee: BROWN DIANA KATHLEEN; MANSFIELD JOAN
Priority date: 1981-02-13
Filing date: 1981-02-13
Publication date: 1982-08-25
Also published as: GB2093241B

Abstract

Distress alarm apparatus (2) for buildings, which distress alarm apparatus (2) comprises a housing (4) having a work or sign indicating that a distress situation has occurred, a light source, a control device (30) for the light source so that the light source can be illuminated on the occurrence of the stress situation, and mounting means (8) for mounting the distress alarm apparatus adjacent a window or door of a building. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Distress alarm apparatus for buildings This invention relates to distress alarm apparatus for buildings.

When persons living on their own suffer an accident, they often have difficulty obtaining help.

This problem is particularly acute with elderly persons.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide distress alarm apparatus which will enable an injured person to indicate that assistance is required.

Accordingly, this invention provides distress alarm apparatus for buildings, which distress alarm apparatus comprises a housing having a word or sign indicating that a distress situation has occurred, a light source, a control device for the light source so that the light source can be illuminated on the occurrence of the stress situation, and mounting means for mounting the distress alarm apparatus adjacent a window or door of a building.

Preferably, the distress alarm apparatus is one in which the light source is positioned in the housing, and in which the light source illuminates the word or sign. However, if desired, the light source could be positioned outside the housing.

The light source is preferably a pulsating light source. A continuous light source may however be employed. The pulsating light source may be zenon pulsating flashing device. Flashing devices employing other gases, for example neon, may also be employed. Usually the flashing devices will have a tungsten element but other elements may be employed.

The light source may be arranged to give a white or a coloured light. Examples of colours that may be employed are red, blue, green and yellow.

A reflector may be provided to intensify the light from the light source.

When the housing is provided with a word, then the word may be HELP, SOS, MAYDAY or EMERGENCY. Other words can obviously be employed.

A simple control device may include a pull cord. Advantageously, the pull cord extends to floor level so that an injured person crawling to the distress alarm apparatus will still be able to get hold of the pull cord. The pull cord may co-operate with a simple mechanically operated pull switch which goes ON or OFF every time the cord is pulled. However, the pull cord preferably cooperates with a mechanically locking pull switch that goes to the ON state when the cord is pulled and which remains in the ON state irrespective of subsequent pulls on the cord, until such time as the switch is separately de-activated, for example with a key. The mechanically locking pull switch ensures that the distress alarm apparatus stays on when it is activated and that it does not inadvertently get switched off again.

If desired, the control device may be electrically operated. Remotely activated electrical control devices may be employed. The remotely activated electrical control devices may be ceiling mounted and they may employ a pull cord. If lack of space, for example in a ceiling rose, prevents the use of a mechanically locking pull switch, then an electronic latching device such for example as bistable means may be employed to ensure that the distress alarm apparatus stays on when it is activated and that it does not inadvertently get switched off again. De-activation of the electronic latching device will be by separate means such as a reset button.

The mounting means may be a bracket. The bracket may be formed integrally with the housing. Other types of mounting means may be employed such for example as suction devices.

The distress alarm apparatus can be arranged to be mounted internally or externally.

The housing is preferably square or rectangular in shape but it can be circular if desired. The housing may be made of plastics materials, sheet metal or wood. Plastics materials are presently preferred since they are easy to mould, easy to clean and relatively light. The word or sign indicating that a distress situation has occurred may be positioned in, on or behind a glass or transparent plastics window in the housing.

Preferably, the distress alarm apparatus contains audible alarm means. The audible alarm means may be a buzzer, a bell, an air horn, a siren or a device giving a bleep tone or a cyber tone. The audible sounds may be continuous or intermittent as desired.

In a building such as a person's home, it will be apparent that accidents to persons may occur in various rooms, for example in the bedrooms, the living room or the kitchen. In these circumstances, it may be desirable to provide the distress alarm apparatus with a plurality of control devices, one for each different location. Various control devices can be connected to a single housing by electrical wires and each electrical wire will be arranged to activate the light source. Appropriate slave devices may be employed in the electrical wiring.

The distress alarm apparatus is advantageously provided with reassurance indicator means for indicating when the distress alarm apparatus has been activated. Reassurance indicator means are especially advantageous where a plurality of control devices are employed. For example, if the distress alarm apparatus is mounted in a kitchen window and an accident occurs in a bedroom, then a remote control device may be employed to activate the light source and it is reassuring for the injured person to know that the light source has been illuminated. Otherwise the injured person could be lying in the bedroom wondering if the light source has been activated. The reassurance indicator means may take the form of a small bulb which becomes illuminated when the distress alarm apparatus has been activated.The bulb may be a light emitting diode, a gas filled bulb or any other device, and it can be mounted in a ceilingmountable rose. If a ceiling-mountable rose is employed, a pull cord may dangle from the rose.

The distress alarm apparatus may also be activated remotely from various locations by remote control switches similar to those currently employed for switching channels on televisions.

The distress alarm apparatus of the present invention may be mains and/or battery operated.

In the event of an electricity mains power cut, elderly persons can go into a distress situation due to cold. The battery in the distress alarm apparatus can always be employed in the event of a mains power cut. Where a battery is employed, it may be a normal disposable battery or a rechargeable battery. Where the battery is rechargeable, it can be arranged to be recharged through an a.c.

rectifier from the mains.

The distress alarm apparatus of the present invention may be connected if desired to tape dialing machines for dialing emergency services or for summoning assistance from neighbours friends or relatives. It is envisaged that relatives of elderly persons will have more peace of mind than hitherto if they know that their elderly relations, who may be living on their own, can easily summon assistance.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described soleiy by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of distress alarm apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows the distress alarm apparatus of Figure 1 with its front cover removed; Figures 3 and 4 are respectively front and side views of the distress alarm apparatus of Figure 1, and they show various electrical components of the distress alarm apparatus; Figure 5 shows a circuit for the distress alarm apparatus; Figures 6, 7 and 8 are respectively front, side and underneath plan views of a ceiling mountable rose employing a reassurance indicator; Figure 9 is an exploded drawing showing one possible control device; Figure 10 is a plan view of the part of the control device shown in Figure 9; and Figure 11 1 is a section on the line B-B shown in Figure 10.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown distress alarm apparatus 2 comprising a housing 4 which is substantially square when viewed from the front. The housing 4 comprises a rear part 6 having mounting means in the form of a bracket 8.

The bracket 8 is provided with two apertures 10 for enabling the distress alarm apparatus 2 to be secured to a surface. The bracket 8 is also designed to function as a handle for carrying the apparatus 2 or for hooking the apparatus 2 over a hook or the like. The bracket 8 is pivotally mounted to the rear part 6 by a pair of screw threaded knobs 12 which screw into threaded bushes 14. When the knobs 12 are tightened on the bracket 8, the bracket 8 can be held in any desired mounting position about the rear part 6.

The housing 4 also comprises a front part 1 6 made of a clear transparent material and provided with the word HELP on its inner surface.

As shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 4, a light source in the form of a zenon flashing unit 18 is mounted in the housing 4. The unit 1 8 comprises a zenon drive unit 20 which is secured to the rear part 6 of the housing 4, and a zenon flash tube 22. The tube 22 extends through a hole 24 in a reflector plate 26. The reflector plate 26 is mounted in the rear part 6 of the housing 4 and it increases the intensity of the light from the tube 22. The tube 22 contains zenon gas and it has a tungsten filament. The unit 1 8 is powered by a pair of batteries 28, see Figure 3. The actual components of the zenon drive unit 20 are also shown in Figure 3. The unit 20 is preferably a Siemens Type 2/6 zenon drive unit.

The distress alarm apparatus 2 further comprises a control device in the form of a pull cord 30. The pull cord 30 operates through a switch 32 to turn the unit 1 8 ON and OFF. When the unit 18 is ON, it emits a flashing light for drawing attention to the distress alarm apparatus 2.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a circuit for the distress alarm apparatus 2. The circuit shows the batteries 28 and the switch 32.

The batteries 28 may each be a 9 volt primary battery. The unit 20 and the tube 22 are also shown. The circuit may optionally contain a remote pull switch assembly 34, a bistable device 35 and a reset button 37 as will be described in greater detail hereinbelow with reference to Figures 9,10 and 11.

Referring now to Figures 6, 7 and 8, there is shown a ceiling rose 39 having a pull cord 41. The rose 39 and the pull cord 41 are not part of the distress alarm apparatus 2 illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. The rose 39 and the pull cord 41 are separate from the distress alarm apparatus 2 as shown in Figures 1 to 4 and they may be employed to remotely activate the apparatus 2.

When the pull cord 41 is operated, a reassurance indicator in the form of a light emitting diode 43 lights up to show the operator that the apparatus 2 has been activated and that the tube 22 is flashing. This saves the operator worrying that even although the pull cord 41 has been pulled the apparatus 2 may not have operated. The bistable device 35 and the reset button 37 may be housed in the rose 39 and the rose 39 may be manufactured in various parts which are held together by screws 45. The bistable device 35 will ensure that the tube 22 remains illuminated until the reset button 37 is operated.

The remote pull switch assembly 34 illustrated diagrammaticaily in Figure 5 is shown in detail in Figures 9, 10 and 11. The switch assembly 34 comprises a mounting plate 36, a guide pin 38 for a key, an actuator thimble 40, a microswitch 42, an actuator lever 44 for the microswitch 42, a compression spring 46, a mounting plate 48, a guide 50 for the thimble 40, the pull cord 30, a toggle or button 52 for gripping the pull cord 30, and a key 54. The parts are shown in exploded view in Figure 9 and they may be assembled as follows. The mounting plate 48 may be moulded as an integral part of the housing 4 or it may be formed as a separate mounting plate to be fixed in the housing 4 by means of screws.The microswitch 42 with its actuator lever 44 is fixed to the mounting plate 36 by means of screws, one of which is shown as screw 56, and sleeve nuts, one of which is shown as sleeve nut 58.

The compression spring 46 is inserted in the actuator thimble 40 and the thimble 40 is then mounted over the guide 50. The mounting plate 36 is then placed on top of the thimble 40 with the spindle end of the thimble 40 projecting through a guide hole 60 in the mounting plate 36.

The mounting plate 36 is secured to three support pillars 62 on the mounting plate 48 by means of three self-tapping screws 64, the screws 64 passing into apertures 66 in the pillars 62.

The guide pin 38 which is provided on the mounting plate 36 is aligned with a key hole 66 formed in the mounting plate 48.

One end of the pull cord 30 is passed through a hole 68 in the mounting plate 48, and then through the guide 50, the spring 46, the thimble 40 and the hole 60. The pull cord 30 is then knotted with a knot 70 and the toggle 52 is attached to the other end of the pull cord 30.

When the above assembly has been completed, it will be seen that the main body of the thimble 40 is in contact with the actuator lever 44 of the microswitch 42. This keeps the microswitch button 72, see Figure 1 0, in a depressed state thus keeping the microswitch internal switch contacts (not shown) in an open mode. On pulling the pull cord 30, the thimble 40 will move downwards to rest on the mounting plate 48. This will expose the spindle portion 74 of the thimble 40 underneath the mounting plate 36. This in turn enables the actuator lever 44 to move from the main body portion 76 of the thimble 40 to the spindle portion 74, thereby releasing the button 72 on the microswitch 42 from a depressed state and causing the microswitch internal switch contacts to become closed circuit. This in turn activates the distress alarm apparatus 2.

On actuation of the distress alarm apparatus 2, the spring 46 will have been compressed within the actuator thimble 40. The spring 46 will be prevented from returning to its original position by virtue of the fact that the actuator lever 44 will be positioned against the shoulder 78 formed between the main body portion 76 and the spindle portion 74 of the actuator thimble 40. In order to move the actuator lever 44 and allow the spring 46 to return the actuator thimble 40 to its deenergised position, the actuator lever 44 must be moved and this is effected with the key 54.

More specifically, the key 54 is inserted into the key hole 66 in the mounting plate 48. The key 54 is pushed to the base of the guide pin 38 on the mounting plate 36. The key 54 is then turned anticlockwise until the key tongue 80 meets the actuator lever 44. As the key 54 is rotated, the actuator lever 44 is pressed by the key tongue 80 against a key stop 82 on the mounting plate 36.

When this happens, the microswitch button 72 is depressed and the microswitch actuator lever 44 is moved away from the shoulder 78 to enable the compression spring 46 to force the spindle portion 74 of the thimble 40 through the aperture 60. The actuator lever 44 can then rest on the main body portion 76 of the thimble 40.

It will thus be apparent from the description of the pull switch 34 with reference to Figures 9, 10 and 11 that one pull on the pull cord 30 will be effective to turn on the distress alarm apparatus 2 and subsequent pulls on the pull cord 30 will not de-energise the distress alarm apparatus 2. The distress alarm apparatus 2 is turned off and re-set for another emergency operation as an entirely separate act by means of the key 54. This avoids the possibility of a person in a distressed state inadvertently pulling on the cord too many times and finally switching the distress alarm apparatus 2 OFF instead of ON.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the distress alarm apparatus 2 may be mains operated or the pull cords 30, 41 may be replaced by, or may be supplemented with, remotely operated electrical switches. Further, in case an accident should occur and the injured person cannot get to a control device, the distress alarm apparatus 2 can be arranged to come on automatically after a set period of time if it is not de-activated during that period of time. The time period can be started again on de-activation to give the distress alarm apparatus a continuous fail safe feature catering for the situation where a person is so badly injured that they cannot activate the distress alarm apparatus.

Claims

1. Distress alarm apparatus for buildings, which distress alarm appartus comprises a housing having a word or sign indicating that a distress situation has occurred, a light source, a control device for the light source so that the light source can be illuminated on the occurrence of the stress situation, and mounting means for mounting the distress alarm apparatus adjacent a window or door of a building.

2. Distress alarm apparatus according to claim 1 in which the light source is positioned in the housing, and in which the light source illuminates the word or sign.

3. Distress alarm apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the light source is a pulsating light source.

4. Distress alarm apparatus according to claim 3 in which the pulsating light source is a zenon pulsating flashing device.

5. Distress alarm apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a reflector to intensify the light from the light source.

6. Distress alarm apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the control device is a pull cord.

7. Distress alarm apparatus according to claim 6 in which the pull cord extends to floor level so that an injured person crawling to the distress alarm apparatus will still be able to get hold of the pull cord.

8. Distress alarm apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7 in which the pull cord co-operates with a mechanically operated pull switch which goes ON or OFF every time the cord is pulled.

9. Distress alarm apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7 in which the pull cord co-operates with a mechanically locking pull switch that goes to the ON state when the cord is pulled and which remains in the ON state irrespective of subsequent pulls on the cord, until such time as the switch is separately de-activated.

1 0. Distress alarm apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the control device is electrically operated.

11. Distress alarm apparatus according to claim 10 in which the control device is a remotely activated electrical control device.

12. Distress alarm apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11 in which the control device includes an electronic latching device for ensuring that the distress alarm apparatus stays on when it is activated and that it does not inadvertently get switched off again.

13. Distress alarm apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the mounting means is a bracket.

14. Distress alarm apparatus according to claim 13 in which the bracket is formed integrally with the housing.

1 5. Distress alarm apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the word or sign indicating that a distress situation has occurred is positioned in, on or behind a glass or transparent plastics window in the housing.

1 6. Distress alarm apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including audible alarm means.

1 7. Distress alarm apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including a plurality of the control devices.

1 8. Distress alarm apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including reassurance indicator means for indicating when the distress alarm apparatus has been activated.

1 9. Distress alarm apparatus according to claim 1 8 in which the reassurance indicator means is a bulb which becomes illuminated when the distress alarm apparatus has been activated.

20. Distress alarm apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and which is mains and/or battery operated.

21. Distress alarm apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and which is connected to a tape dialing machine for dialing emergency services or for summoning assistance.

22. Distress alarm apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.